Girlguides’ awareness of and attitudes towards the risks of the sun and sun-protection behaviours

This study was designed to explore Girlguiding members’ awareness of and attitudes towards the sun and sun-protection behaviours. Girlguides represent a particularly important group for exploring awareness and attitudes, not only because of their adolescent age range but also the time spent participating in a variety of outdoor activities. Two focus groups were facilitated, with a total of ten participants between the ages of 12 and 18. Four themes were identified following thematic analysis of the data, which capture the awareness and attitudes of the participants: 1) Uncertainty over the specifics, 2) The importance of the influence of others, 3) Tanned appearance = positive, and 4) The importance of increased education. Implications of the research include a need for further education in schools and at home, as well as in groups such as Girlguiding, so that young people, especially adolescent girls, understand the importance of protecting themselves from UV radiation.